Low topped convection in association of a cold upper level low were strong enough to produce a few funnel clouds early in the afternoon. Later in the afternoon there was enough instability to produce a few thunderstorms with isolated reports of severe weather reported.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS DDC wrote it up.
Low topped convection in association of a cold upper level low were strong enough to produce a few funnel clouds early in the afternoon. Later in the afternoon there was enough instability to produce a few thunderstorms with isolated reports of severe weather reported.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Dodge City, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 21, 4:54 AM CST, 6 hours 19 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Dodge City KS 554 AM CDT Tue May 21 2019 ...Updated aviation discussion... .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 400 AM CDT Tue May 21 2019 A strong upper level low pressure system was centered over northern New Mexico early this morning. A deep upper trough rotating around the southern quadrant of the low was becoming negatively tilted as it pushed out into west Texas. Through today, the upper low and trough complex will rotate out to the northeast across the central High Plains. A broad shield of rain and thunderstorms was spreading through western and central Kansas ahead of the upper low. This will continue to lift out through the area this morning and exit the forecast area shortly after sunrise. Fog that developed across the forecast area earlier this evening has been scoured out by the rain. Dense fog was spotty or off and on at that time. Some fog may redevelop in the wake of the rain but feel widespread dense fog is not too likely so will cancel the advisory. As the storm system lifts out this morning, surface low pressure and an associated warm front will also pull to the north. South to southwest winds will increase across the forecast area later this morning. A cold front will sweep southeast across the forecast area this afternoon behind the low. With a cold pool aloft over the area and some daytime heating, showers and thunderstorms are expected to redevelop later this morning and afternoon. MUCape values will generally be less than 1000 j/kg but with steep lapse rates and a fair amount of deep layer shear, especially toward central Kansas, a few of the storms could become severe with large hail and possibly a tornado. Conditions quiet down this evening as the upper system continues to pull away. With clearing skies and light winds, temperatures over western portions of the forecast area could very well drop into the mid/upper 30s. If dewpoints drop low enough, some areas of frost could develop. The next shift will need to monitor this for the possibility of a frost advisory. Wednesday will be considerably warmer and more pleasant with light winds. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 400 AM CDT Tue May 21 2019 The upper flow pattern will be conducive for showers and thunderstorms to develop over parts of the area nearly every day through the Memorial Day weekend. Thursday looks to be an active severe weather day as a strong shortwave trough and strong upper level jet lifts out from New Mexico across the central High Plains. A very unstable airmass along with strong deep layer shear will likely result in severe thunderstorms with the potential of large hail and a few tornadoes. Thunderstorm chances will likely continue nearly every day through the upcoming holiday weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Wednesday morning) Issued at 553 AM CDT Tue May 21 2019 IFR to LIFR cigs and vsbys will continue into this morning before lifting as a low pressure system and warm front lift north through southwest Kansas. Winds will become gusty from the south to southwest during the day. A cold front will push through the area this afternoon. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible in the vicinity of the low and cold front. Conditions will improve to VFR by this evening. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 400 AM CDT Tue May 21 2019 Will keep the Flash Flood Watch intact through this morning as another round of rain moves through the area. There will be a chance for thunderstorms across central Kansas this afternoon. Rainfall rates and storm coverage should not be as great as Monday so the threat for flash flooding should diminish by this afternoon. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 60 39 80 59 / 80 20 0 40 GCK 56 36 77 54 / 60 10 0 30 EHA 57 40 80 52 / 30 10 0 30 LBL 61 43 82 58 / 40 10 0 30 HYS 57 38 74 55 / 90 30 0 30 P28 67 46 81 65 / 60 20 10 30 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch until 1 PM CDT this afternoon for KSZ031-045- 046-064>066-077>081-087>090. && SHORT TERM...Gerard LONG TERM...Gerard AVIATION...Gerard HYDROLOGY...Gerard
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Dodge City KS 503 AM CDT Tue May 21 2019 KSZ030-031-043>046-061>066-074>081-084>090-221100- Trego-Ellis-Scott-Lane-Ness-Rush-Hamilton-Kearny-Finney-Hodgeman- Pawnee-Stafford-Stanton-Grant-Haskell-Gray-Ford-Edwards-Kiowa- Pratt-Morton-Stevens-Seward-Meade-Clark-Comanche-Barber- 503 AM CDT Tue May 21 2019 /403 AM MDT Tue May 21 2019/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...south central...southwest and west central Kansas. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Day 1 Discussion ---------------- Locally heavy rain will move through central and parts of southwest Kansas this morning. There will be a threat for flooding with the rain. See the latest Flash Flood Watch product for additional details. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to redevelop this afternoon. A few of these storms could become severe with large hail, damaging wind and isolated tornadoes. The greatest threat for severe weather will be around central Kansas. Low temperatures tonight are expected to dip into the mid and upper 30s over far west central Kansas. Areas of frost will be possible. Day 1 Hazards ------------- * Tornado: Limited risk * Hail: Elevated risk * Thunderstorm wind damage: Elevated risk * Flooding: Elevated risk * Lightning: Elevated risk * Non-thunderstorm wind: Elevated risk * Freeze: Elevated risk .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Days 2-7 Discussion ------------------- Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop late Wednesday night into Thursday. Severe thunderstorms are expected with the greatest potential to the east of a Hays to Liberal line. Large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes and locally heavy rain will be possible. Days 2-7 Hazards ---------------- * Wednesday - Lightning: Limited risk - Severe thunderstorm: Limited risk - Freeze: Elevated risk * Thursday - Flooding: Limited risk - Lightning: Elevated risk - Severe thunderstorm: Elevated risk - Non thunderstorm wind: Limited risk * Friday - Lightning: Limited risk * Saturday - Lightning: Elevated risk * Sunday - Lightning: Elevated risk * Monday - Lightning: Limited risk - Non thunderstorm wind: Limited risk .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon east of Highway 83. && For more details visit our webpage http://weather.gov/ddc/ehwo
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Dodge City KS 913 AM CDT Tue May 21 2019 KSZ030-031-043>046-065-211915- Trego-Ellis-Scott-Lane-Ness-Rush-Pawnee- Including the cities of Wakeeney, Pfeifer, Hays, Scott City, Scott State Lake, Dighton, Ness City, La Crosse, and Larned 913 AM CDT Tue May 21 2019 ...A few tornadoes will be possible late this morning and early this afternoon in north central Kansas... A cold core upper low will lift cross western Kansas today. As this upper low interacts with a northward moving warm front this will create favorable conditions for low top supercells and even a few tornadoes. Any tornadoes that may develop today likely will be relatively weak and small. These are extremely difficult to detect with much lead time. If a tornado is sighted, first take any necessary safety precautions, and then report the activity to the National Weather Service in Dodge City and local law enforcement.
The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 109 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:13 UTC.
3 funnel cloud, 3 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Sections of a roof were blown off a 50 x 150 foot pole barn and deposited 1 to 2 blocks north of the building.
A small funnel was observed underneath a shower.
A small funnel cloud was visible underneath a shower.
A small funnel was observed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, May 2019
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 837136, 837129, 837130, 837132, 837133, 837134, 837135.